
At the forefront of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 research
Caption: Dr. Akiko Iwasaki. Photo by Kike Calvo/AP Images for HHMI. JCC Board of [...]
Read MoreSince 1937, the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund has been offering highly-qualified scientists the opportunity to pursue research into the causes and origins of cancer.
Apply Now1500 fellows have been funded since the JCC Fund’s inception
Former fellows & scientific advisors include 22 Nobel laureates
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Caption: Dr. Akiko Iwasaki. Photo by Kike Calvo/AP Images for HHMI. JCC Board of [...]
Read MoreCaption: Dr. Tracy Johnson. Photo by Hadar Goren. Dr. Tracy Johnson, UCLA professor of [...]
Read MoreMy current research is focused on the biology and evolution of transposons, which are DNA parasites that constitute over half of the human genome. Specifically, I am investigating the long-standing hypothesis that transposon activity is a major mechanism underlying the evolution of gene regulatory networks.
I became interested in evolutionary biology as an undergraduate at UC San Diego, where I worked with Hopi Hoekstra studying the volatile history of rodent placental proteins. I continued studying placental evolution as a graduate student at Stanford University with Julie Baker, where we found that transposons may contribute to pregnancy-related adaptations by functioning as species-specific regulatory elements. Inspired by the potential for transposons to drive rapid evolutionary change, I decided to do my postdoc in the laboratories of Cedric Feschotte and Nels Elde at the University of Utah, where I am studying the role of transposons in shaping the evolution of human innate immune responses. Outside the lab, I enjoy the vast outdoor recreational activities in Utah, including hiking, skiing, and canyoneering.